Former Little Mix Star Jesy Nelson Opens Up About Twins' SMA Diagnosis
Former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson has shared an emotional account of her twins' diagnosis with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) during a candid interview on Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden. The singer, who was promoting her new documentary Jesy Nelson: Life After Little Mix premiering on Amazon Prime Video, described the last few years as an unpredictable rollercoaster that included hospital stays and unexpected health challenges.
Unexpected Documentary Turn and Hospital Ordeal
Jesy revealed that production on her documentary took a dramatic turn just two days into filming when she was rushed to hospital for emergency laser surgery related to her pregnancy. "I ended up living in hospital for nearly three months," she explained, noting that filming continued throughout her hospital stay with cameras being set up even during labor contractions.
The singer described how her mother first noticed concerning symptoms in the twins after their birth. "Mum spotted it straight away; their little legs weren't moving," Jesy said, explaining that she hadn't noticed the signs herself because she'd been advised not to compare her premature twins to full-term babies. Medical professionals later confirmed the twins had SMA, a rare genetic condition affecting muscle strength and movement that can be life-threatening without early intervention.
Campaign for Government Action on Newborn Screening
Jesy is now leading a campaign urging the UK government to include SMA testing in the standard newborn screening program. Currently, SMA is not part of the routine heel-prick test administered to all newborns shortly after birth. "It's completely curable if it's caught early," Jesy emphasized, "but for some reason, it's not part of the heel-prick test that every newborn gets. It comes down to money — and that's heartbreaking."
The singer has launched a petition that requires 10,000 signatures to reach Parliament and 100,000 signatures for further consideration. She revealed that since sharing her family's story, six people have already contacted her saying it helped them get their own babies diagnosed with SMA.
Celebrating Small Victories and Raising Awareness
Despite the challenges, Jesy focuses on celebrating every small milestone in her children's progress. "When I see them holding their heads up for five seconds, that's my new milestone. That's my win," she shared, acknowledging that their progression remains uncertain but maintaining hope.
During the interview, both Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden praised Jesy's bravery and the impact of her advocacy. "Just by talking about this, Jesy, you're changing lives," Jamie told her, while Amanda added, "Absolutely — it's life-saving awareness."
Jesy's six-part documentary offers an unfiltered look at her life beyond Little Mix, covering motherhood, health battles, and personal rediscovery. The singer remains committed to helping other families avoid similar experiences, stating, "I just want to make sure no one else has to go through what we did. If even one baby gets help because of this, then it's all been worth it."
